Bearing structure for machines operating in water.



J. OTTO.

BEARING STRUCTURE FOR MACHINES OPERATING IN WATER.

APPLIGATION FILED FEB.9,1909.

Inventor: Johann O to,

B fitt'g.

1L 1 9 1 r0 1 no u A d LQUU, n 6 t a P 2 2 2 .l. an F u 0 u a u 0 u n u4 0m m 0 I 00 O 1 Witnesses:

NEED STATE% ATENT PRICE.

JOHANN OTTO, OF RIGA, RUSSIA, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. I

BEARING STRUCTURE FOR MACHINES OPERATING IN WATER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHANN O'r'ro, a subject of the Emperor ofAustria-Hungary, residing at Riga, Russia, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Bearing Structures for Machines Operating inWater, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to' a means for preventing water from entering thecasing of machines operating in orunde r water, and is particularlyapplicable to dynamo-electric machines of the direct-current type. Ifwater enters the casings of such machines it causes a great amount oftrouble, and it is the object of my invention to prevent such anentrance of water.-

To this end, my invention consists in the combination of an inclosedcasing of a machine designed for operation in water having a shaftextending beyond the casing, a bearing for said shaft, and a deflectoron said shaft situated in the bearing chamber, said hearing having alubricating chamber ;filled with lubricating material of less specificgravity than water, an overflow for the water that enters saidlubricating chamher, a second chamber into which the water enters fromsaid overflow, and means for removing said water.

Other features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointedout with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part ofthis specification. For a better understanding of my invention, however,and the advantages possessed by it, reference may be had to thefollowing description taken in-connection with the accompanying drawing,in which- 7 Figure l-is a section through a bearing and a portion of atotally inclosed casing of a machine embodying my invention, and Fig. 2is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

1 is the inclosed casing of a machine into which it is desired toprevent water from entering when the machine is operating in or underwater, and is shown as being broken away. The shaft 2 of the machine hasits operating end extending beyond the casing, rotates in a bearing 3,and is provided with a deflect-or 4L situated inthe bearing chamber. Thehearing has a lubricating chamber 5 filled with a lubricant of lessspecific gravity than water, and an overflow 6 for the water that entersthe'lubricating Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 9, 1909.

Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

Serial No. 476,912.

to prevent water reentering the chamber 7,

through the pipe 9. A pump 11 may be provided in the pipe 9. This pumpis suitably driven, and may be used to force the water out of thissecond chamber. Even when the outer end of the shaft. is provided with astulli1r box 8, water will find its way into the bearing to thedeflector 4t, whence it is thrown by the rotation of the shaft 2 intothelubricating material contained in the lubricating chamber The waterbeing specifically heavier than the lubricating material, it sinks tothe bottom of the chamber and the lubriating material floats on top ofthe water. As the water enters. the lu bricating material in theoverflow G flows into the chamber 7. The lubricating material in theupper portion of the chamber 5 cannot enter the overflow, however, sothat only the small column of lubricating material in the overflow islost. As water continues to enter the hearing it overflows into thechamher 7, from which it is drawn by the pump 11 and forced out throughthe check valve 10. The water in the chamber 7 may be re moved by meansof air pressure, in which case the pump 11 may be dispensed with.

The means above described are not only adapted to prevent the entranceof water into the casing of a machine, but any fluid which has aspecific gravity greater than the lubricating material. I, therefore,desire it to be understood that my invention is not limited to theparticular construction shown and described, and I aim in the appendedclaims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spiritand scope of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is,

1. In combination, an inclosed casing of a machine designed foroperation inv a fluid, a shaft extending beyond the casing, a hearingfor said shaft, a' deflector on said shaft situated in the bearingchamber, said bearing having a lubricating chamber filled with lubricantof less specific gravity than said fluid, an overflow for the fluid thatenters said lubricating chamber, and a second chamber into which thefluid enters from overflow, and means for removing said 2. Incombination, an inclosed casing of a machine designed for operation'in afluid, a shaft extending beyond the casing, a bearing for said shaft, adeflector on said shaft situated in the bearing chamber, said bearinghaving a lubricating chamber filled with lubricant of less specificgravity than said fluid, an overflow for the fluid that enters saidlubricating chamber, and a second chamber into which the fluid entersfrom said overflow, and means for removing said fluid comprising a pumpand a check valve.

3. In combination, an inclosed casing of a machine designed foroperation in a fluid, a shaft extending beyond the casing, a bearing forsaid shaft, a deflector on said shaft situated in the bearing chamber,said bearing having a lubricating chamber filled wit-h lubricant of lessspecific gravity than said fluid, an overflow for the fluid that enterssaid lubricating chamber, and a second chamber into which the fluidenters from said overflow, a pipe leading from said second chamber, acheck valve in said pipe, and means for forcing said fluid out of saidsecond chamber. I

4. In combination, an inclosed casing of a machine desi ned foroperation in a fluid, a shaft extendi iig beyond the casing, a bearingfor said shaft, a stuffing box aroundsaid shaft to prevent said fluidentering said bearing, a deflector on said shaft situated in the bearingchamber for throwing the fluid from said shaft which has entered saidbearing through said stuffing boX, and a bearing housing having alubricating chamber formed therein and filled with lubricating materialof less specific gravity than said fluid, and an overflow for the fluidthat enters said lubricating chamber.

5. In combination, an inclosed casing of a machine designed foroperation in a fluid, a shaft extending beyond the casing, a bearing forsaid shaft, a deflector on said shaft situated in the bearing chamberfor throwing the fluid from said shaft which has entered said bearing, abearing housing having a lubricating chamber formed therein andcontaining lubricating material of less specific gravity than saidfluid, an overflow for the fluid that enters said lubricating chamberand a second chamber into which the fluid enters from said overflow, andmeans for re moving said fluid.

6. In combination, an inclosed casing of a machine designed foroperation in a fluid, a shaft extending beyond the casing, a bearing forsaid shaft, a deflector on said shaft situated in the bearing chamberfor throwing the fluid from said shaft which has entered said bearing, abearing housing having a lubricating chamber formed therein andcontaining lubricating material of less specific gravity than saidfluid, an overflow for the fluid that enters said lubricating chamberand a second chamber into which the fluid enters from said overflow, apipe leading from said second chamber, a check valve in said pipe, andmeans for forcing said fluid out of said second chamber.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day ofJanuary, 1909.

' JOHANN OTTO. Witnesses HERNANDO DE SOTO,

